For the first time in five years, an Oxford Village Council election will actually be contested, although both candidates won’t be on the ballot.
Incumbent Councilman Tom Benner filed a nominating petition Friday for the four-year council seat on the Tuesday, Sept. 13 village ballot.
Village resident Susan McGinnis also plans to run for council but as a write-in candidate.
She too had filed a nomination petition Friday, but unfortunately seven of her 29 signatures were disqualified ? two were not village residents, two were not registered voters and three had also signed Benner’s petition.
The signatures of at least 25 registered village voters are required for placement on the ballot as a council candidate.
Because McGinnis and Benner were collecting signatures for the same seat, the same three people who signed each petition were disqualified from both. However, Benner still had enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Undaunted by this setback, McGinnis said she will run as a write-in candidate. Write-in candidates must file a ‘declaration of intent? with the village clerk by 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. McGinnis said she’s running to ‘bring some youth and some fresh ideas to the council.?
Improving relations between council and other village boards and between the village and township is a main priority with McGinnis along with making the community ‘more pedestrian-friendly? and ‘finding the balance between growth and keeping (the community) quaint.?
‘I think what I like most about the village is that living in town I can walk to everything and know my neighbors. I always stop and talk to everybody,? she said. ‘What I don’t like, unfortunately, is that we’re starting to lose a little bit of that (small town feel) with the traffic and the sprawl.?
A village resident since 1997, the Pleasant Street homeowner currently serves on the village Zoning Board of Appeals and the Oxford Downtown Development Authority Board (since October 2003).
She also served on the Oxford Beautification Commission from December 2003 until this month.
McGinnis said she joined the DDA in order ‘to support the community and do whatever I can to help.?
‘I found myself having a lot of gripes and complaints without being part of the solution,? she said.
Although she’s still a relative newcomer to the DDA, McGinnis was elected as the board’s vice chair in March. She’s also chairperson of the Design Committee, which is responsible for all the aesthetic issues in the downtown.
McGinnis said her experiences on the DDA board have given her a ‘fresh perspective? which she hopes to bring to council.
‘I think I’ve learned to set aside my own ego and my own personal opinions, and really understand what’s important for the community at the end of the day,? she said. ‘I think a lot of people have lost touch with where we’re going, what we’re doing, why we’re here.?
Currently employed as a bartender and waitress at the Oxford Tap, McGinnis was previously employed as a business manager for an automotive supplier. Unfortunately, the company went out of business and she was laid off in December 2004.
A village resident since 1962, Benner has served on council since April 1 following his appointment to former Councilman Matt Weber’s seat in early March.
The retired construction worker, who lives on N. Glaspie Street, previously served on council from 1995 until 1998 when he lost his bid for re-election. He also previously served on the village ZBA and the former Oxford Emergency Safety Authority.
Benner originally said he was only going to serve on council for the remainder of Weber’s term (six months) and not seek election in the fall.
However, concern over what’s going to happen with the village’s cityhood effort and the township’s future development of the Koenig Sand & Gravel property (which abuts the village along Lakeville Road) prompted Benner to change his mind and run for the seat.
‘I would like to see cityhood go on the ballot to see what the people decide before any more money is spent,? he said. ‘It’s a decision the people need to make.?
As for the eventual development of Koenig’s 1,160 acres, Benner is opposed to the initial proposal of three residential units per acre and would like to see the land retain its rural character with a lower density.
But no matter how it’s developed, Benner said ?80 percent of the traffic? from the new houses will drive through the village to get on to M-24.
That’s why developing infrastructure, such as ‘good north-south roads,? will be ‘very important? in dealing with the increased population, he said.
Benner believes his previous three years on council coupled with his decades of construction experience make him well-suited to face these future challenges.
‘I have a knowledge of what goes on within the village government,? he said. ‘I think I’m well qualified to deal with what’s going to take place in the near future with the developments and infrastructure that’s bound to come one way or another.?